UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
HONORARY CONFERRING
Friday, 8 September 2017 at 2.30 pm
TEXT OF THE INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS DELIVERED BY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PAUL McCABE, School of Biology and Environmental Science on 8 September 2017, on the occasion of the conferring of the Degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa on ALISTAIR HETHERINGTON.
President, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
The award by UCD of the degree of Doctor of Science to Professor Alistair Hetherington today is a fitting tribute to the outstanding role he has played in the advancement of science and the education of scientists. He has had, and indeed is still having, an extraordinary career combining roles in teaching and research with leadership in science policy and a range of public service contributions.
Alistair was born in Scotland and as an undergraduate attended the University of St. Andrews, initially to study Zoology but while there became intrigued with Botany. After graduating in Botany, he remained at St Andrews, where he carried out a PhD under the supervision of Professor Bob Crawford in the area of physiological ecology. Alistair then moved to the University of Edinburgh, to work on cell biology, as a postdoctoral scientist with Professor Tony Trewavas on calcium dependent protein kinases. Alistair was subsequently appointed to a lectureship in the University of Lancaster where he established a laboratory focussing on the microscopic pores present on the surfaces of leaves called stomata, these stomata are essential for plant growth and development. In 2006 he moved to the University of Bristol to take up the Melville Wills Chair of Botany.
Alistair is an outstanding scientist and has made a number of internationally important discoveries that underpin our current understanding of cell signalling in plants. His seminal research on calcium- and lipid-based signalling in plant cells have revolutionised the field of cell signalling and advanced the field of calcium- and lipid-based signal transduction in cells. Additionally, his research on the regulation of stomatal development under elevated CO2 has advanced our understanding of how developmental genetics are re-programmed under climate change conditions. Importantly, his works have opened up new avenues of research for the international plant science community and inspired new generations of scientists. Research published by his group provides the basis for breeding crops that can maintain yield in a changing future environment and thereby contributing to the challenge of providing enough food for an expanding world population. Considering the importance of plant scientific research in food security, he founded the Early Career Scientist conference that actively fosters the development of the future leaders in the field of plant science.
His vision and expertise has led to Alistair being invited to serve as Chairs of several UK Research Council strategy panels, and research committees, where he has been influential in charting the research direction and priorities of the British Research Council. In recognition of his outstanding abilities as a scientist, he joined the Scientific Advisory Committee of the UK Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs and has advised the work of the Scottish government. Additionally he has been called as an expert to assist in formulation of policy papers of the House of Commons Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee. He has served on scientific committees in the UK, Finland, France, Estonia and Romania.
He plays a pivotal role in the governance of a number of the internationally important cell and plant research bodies in the UK. Alistair has been a Member of the Governing body of The National Botanic Garden of Wales, and a Member of the Governing Council of the John Innes Centre for Plant Science, as well as a Member of the Governing Council of the Marine Biological Association of the UK. Alistair has been recognised by a number of different bodies for his contribution to research and education: He has been awarded The French CNRS "Poste Rouge" award and "The President’s Medal" for Cell Biology by the Society for Experimental Biology. He has also been elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, a Fellow of the Society of Biology and a Fellow of the Marine Biological Association of the UK.
In addition to mentoring his own research students he has shown a selfless dedication to mentoring students in general. The respect he is held in by his international colleagues is reflected in the fact that he has been appointed external examiner for 13 degree programmes at a number of leading universities – including UCD, Cambridge, Oxford, Bristol, Durham, Dundee, and York. Indeed he has been external degree examiner at UCD several times, for the Cell and Molecular Biology programme, the Genetics programme and most recently the Plant Biology programme. Being able to examine final year students across this breadth of subjects is unusual and is testament to his expansive knowledge of science in general. I have seen first-hand the dedication he puts into these roles, the care and regard he has for our students, and his absolute determination, that we do everything we can to bring out the very best in our graduates.
Alistair is a notable example of the generosity towards others which characterises the attitude of the best academics towards their students and colleagues. University College Dublin recognise his immense contribution to the discipline of Cell Biology and to Plant Science, his activities to support students and early career scientists, and his steadfast support of teaching programmes both in Ireland and abroad. It is a very happy occasion today for University College Dublin to recognise the extraordinary contributions of Professor Alistair Hetherington by conferring upon him the Degree of Doctor of Science.
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Praehonorabilis Praeses, totaque Universitas,
Praesento vobis hunc meum filium, quem scio tam moribus quam doctrina habilem et idoneum esse qui admittatur, honoris causa, ad Gradum Doctoratus Scientiae; idque tibi fide mea testor ac spondeo, totique Academiae.